04/11/2011
We can teach you how to make Community Foundation in your town and give you half of the necessary money to start.
National program for Community Foundations offer 33,500 lei for creating community foundations in major cities in Romania. This amount can be won by communities that will prove that they want, but also are able to establish this type of foundation.
Residents with initiative can benefit of this opportunity until 5 December 2011. In this case, they have to
send to Association for Community Relations (ARC) a
letter of intent showing that they wish to establish a foundation, that their community needed a community foundation, to identify important donors, and also the most consuming problems of the community.
"I believe in people’s involvement potential and the spirit of Romanian initiative, the ability of community foundations to stimulate entrepreneurship with social purpose." (Marius Ghenea, entrepreneur and business angel, member of the National Coordinating Council of Community Foundations program)
In
Cluj, Alba, Covasna and Odorheiu Secuiesc where
community foundations already exist, they created more playgrounds and parks, young people began volunteering for social causes, people were organized to work for the good of their community and these are just some examples of community foundations actions. In Bucharest, Iasi and Mures community foundations are at the beginning, and have many plans make changes in their activity areas such as social, environment, culture, volunteering, healthy lifestyle, etc.
Community foundations operating principles are well illustrated by the YouthBank program. It was established in Cluj-Napoca in 2006. In the program participated young people aged between 15 and 21, which collect funds from the community in a creative manner. The amounts collected by them are doubled by program donor, a popular bank in Romania, and the money obtained are given as financing for high school groups who submit projects for the benefit of the community. In 2009, the program expanded in six new cities in the country, providing funding for 165 projects initiated by high school students. We find in the program key principles of the Community Foundation's operation: to involve people in the community, both as beneficiaries and as participants and donors to create a transparent support framework through which companies and media can involve, to develop and multiply resources for the benefit of nonprofit community action, to support new ideas that improve the quality of life.
After the success of community foundations already established, we launch a
challenge to other daring cities.
Three of these cities will receive funding and consultancy for the establishment of community foundations and their proper functioning in community service.
We want to establish at least one more community foundation in the south, besides the one in Bucharest. We believe that cities in the south, as Pitesti, Ploiesti, Craiova, Constanta and Galati have great potential for good deeds and we challenge you to establish a foundation.
At the beginning, you will receive 33,500 lei, which will complement the amount of 33 500 lei collected in community. Then there will be an opportunity to visit community foundations in the UK and Romania, and in the first operating year you will receive support to attract funds in the community for grants, and funds for experimentation of new mechanisms for working with donors.
All those interested in establishing a community foundation in their city can find additional information on the program website:
www.fundatiicomunitare.ro or write to: contact@fundatiicomunitare.ro.
In completion, we want to remind you that only those who submit
letters of intent to contact@fundatiicomunitare.ro until December 5th have the chance to turn in their community heroes, changing for the better life of the city.
Community foundations program is conducted in Romania by the Association for Community Relations (ARC) in partnership with the Foundation for Partnership and PACT with funding from CS Mott Foundation, Trust for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Romanian-American Foundation.
Association for Community Relations (ARC) is the organization that initiated the community foundations development in Romania, promoted this idea since 2006 and has consistently supported the establishment and operation of community foundations in Cluj and Odorhei. In the ten years of experience, ARC supported the mobilization of community resources, working both with nongovernmental organizations, and with companies.
Partnership Foundation has a rich experience in providing financing and mobilization of resources from companies and individuals for environmental protection, cultural heritage and community development. In recent years, FP has awarded over 650 grants, while being the first foundation in Romania constantly seeking to build a permanent fund (endowment).
